LITERATURE REVIEW

Problem Statement: To investigate the negative effects of teenage pregnancy of the form six
students in Holy Faith Convent Penal.

Research Question1: What are the causes of teenage pregnancy?

According to Maxwell Kobina Acquah, founder/president of the Christ Centered Counseling

Network (CCCN) from www.cccn.webs.com dated 2017; the following are the causes of teenage
pregnancy: As seen below, poverty is a major disadvantage. “In an interview in a hospital with a
pregnant teenager she said the parents could not provide all learning materials for her and she
used to visit a male classmate often to study with him and also take some of his books home.
They liked each other more and by the time she realize they were into a serious relationship and
got pregnant. Others that CCCN interviewed stated their parents pushed them into commercial
sex work, and some also said rich and perceived gentlemen lured them with money and got them
pregnant.” Also, many pornographic videos and images are widely seen throughout social media,
as well as in books and magazines. Movies however, surpass that number and in turn encourage
teenager in sexual acts. Nowadays, teenager tend to put too much focus on their appearance as to
impress their peers and then getting pregnant is a means of fitting in to gain social acceptance.
Additionally, according to the Guardian Newspapers on February 4th, 2014 Dr. Tim Goopeesingh
revealed that many of the teenage mothers explained that they felt they were not loved and got
pregnant because they wanted something to hold onto, also many of the teenage mothers were
children of teenage mothers.

Research Question2: What are the negative effects of teenage pregnancy on the form six
students?
According to the Healthline Newletter written by Katie Mena, MD of year 2016, the burden of
the becoming a mom and carrying a baby creates different changes to the mother both physically
and emotionally. They vary from sleepless nights, doctor appointments and child care while
trying to finish school. After a couple weeks of giving birth, the mother may suffer from several
symptoms from anxiety, sleepless nights, mood swings and depression. Regular doctor
appointments and checkups as well as child care cannot only be an extra expense to the mother
but also time away from school.
Moreover, according to a study done by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
School of Medical Science led by Dr. Reiko Matilda Kpesese in 2006 a study showed that 71%
of depression prevalence among mothers are below 18. Therefore, pregnant teenagers stand a
higher risk of depression.
 LITERATURE REVIEW
Research Question3: What are some measures that can be put in place to prevent teenage
pregnancy of the form six students of Holy Faith Convent Penal?
According to an online website “popsugar” there are eight ways to prevent teenage pregnancy
which are firstly by having the safe sex talk, explain sex and how to be safe, teach respect to
teenagers, encourage abstinence, lay out the consequences, encourage them to gain experience
caring for a baby, discuss the options, don’t make sex a taboo subject.
Furthermore, with reference to an article “Teenage conceptions, abortions and births in
England, 1996-2003 and the historical teenage pregnancy strategies” said the governments can
assist this problem by supporting efforts to prevent teenage pregnancy by providing affordable
family planning services, developing and evaluation programs in communities where teenage
births are highest.